Just puppy fat? Could be fat for life!

Puppy fat can be a warning sign that a child is already developing unhealthy eating patterns. ...

Puppy fat can be a warning sign that a child is already developing unhealthy eating patterns.

The fact is that many overweight children grow up to be overweight adults, so puppy fat shouldn't be dismissed as ''just a phase.'

As part of National Childhood Obesity Week (7th – 13th July), Rebecca Wallersteiner talks to health expert and paediatric dietician Dr Paul Sacher, who developed the MEND programme, which is recommended by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as first-line treatment for child obesity.

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MEND helps families change unhealthy attitudes about food and activity (Mind), keep physically active on a regular basis (Exercise), learn how to choose foods that are healthy, tasty and nutritious (Nutrition), and take action to maintain a healthy lifestyle - for life (Do it!).

Runs in the family

'If one or both parents are overweight a child has a much higher chance of becoming overweight or obese.

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'An obese two year old has a 40 per cent chance of becoming an obese adult; whereas an obese fifteen year old has a 70 per cent chance of becoming an obese adult,' explains Dr Sacher.

'The whole family needs to address pursuing a healthier lifestyle, which is why we aim to involve the whole family in MEND programmes,' he adds.

The best way to work out if a child is healthy or overweight, is by measuring their body mass index (BMI), which evaluates a person's health risk based on their weight and height.

'Understandably, many parents are surprised and shocked when the BMI reveals that their child is in the overweight or obese category', says Dr Sacher.

It's not just puppy fat

'It's commonly assumed that children will grow out of their 'puppy fat', but research suggests that this is rare. Weight is a very sensitive subject for children and adults to discuss.

Even doctors find it difficult to talk openly about their patient's weight for fear of offending them.

Scientists now think that being a heavy child is far more dangerous for their future wellbeing than was previously believed.

An easy clue that tells you if your child is overweight is if they have rolls of fat on their tummy, arms or back.

'At MEND we empower children and parents to focus on the actual behaviours themselves that cause us to become overweight in order to live fitter, healthier, happier lives,' says Dr Sacher.

Live longer

Being very plump can damage your health and reduce your life expectancy.

Last year alone, 20,885 children in the UK were diagnosed with obesity-related illnesses.

Healthy eating

'We work with children as well as parents in our programmes - equipping families with skills necessary to eat more healthily, improve their fitness and generally feel better.

'We try to help people distinguish between genuine hunger and cravings for unhealthy, high energy foods,' says Dr Sacher.

Parents shop and cook and decide what kids eat, but often didn't learn about nutrition, or how to understand food labels, which don't always make it clear if food is healthy or not.

Limit fizzy drinks which contain around 8 to 10 teaspoons of sugar in each can.

Overweight children should be encouraged to drink the sugar-free version, although this still encourages their taste for sweetness.

'We try to help parents serve suitably sized portions and change family eating habits. Snacking between meals isn't always bad as all children are growing and have higher energy requirements.

'Encourage your children to snack on fruit, yoghurt or a sandwich,' says Dr Sacher.

Play outside

'If you look at 1960s seaside photos, children playing on the beach looked much thinner than they do today,' says Dr Sacher. In fact nowadays children are rarely seen outside playing as they are confined to their bedrooms playing computer games.

'Encourage your child to play outside with friends and be less sedentary. Go for family jogs, short cycling trips, swims in the sea and runs on the beach.

All children should be encouraged to enjoy being physically active, which helps to burn-up excessive energy.'

Building confidence

'It's important to boost your overweight child's confidence, especially if they are teased at school.

Assure your child that it's not their fault they are overweight, they haven't failed and that you love them. Explain that weight is a health issue and being thinner gives you more energy and helps you live longer.

At MEND, which is the largest child weight management programme in the world, we aim to empower children and adults to live healthier and happier lives at all weights.

To raise awareness during National Childhood Obesity Week we are planning activities, as well as running MEND Move It Week alongside it, to encourage children and their families across the UK to get active together,' says Dr Sacher.

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